Copperwares
Private Limited was originally established in 1960. Drawing
on decades of experience, the Copperwares team of 130 craftsmen
produce an extensive range of silver and copper plated hollowware
which is sold under the Windsor Silverware, Royal Sable
Copperware, Royal African Collection, Gastone and the Sunray
Bangle brand names.

Husband
and wife team Bruce and Nicola Johnson purchased Copperwares
Private Limited in August 2000. Since the acquisition of
this silverware and copperware business, the dynamic duo
have aspired to the words of famous silversmith George Jensen
who stated that, "Everyday objects should be beautiful
and enrich lives."

Under the leadership of the Johnsons,Copperwares
isstronger
today than ever. Since their start the couple have launched
the Royal African Collection and purchased the Gastone brand.
Exciting new contemporary designs and an African identity
including teak wood, original stone carving and hand-blown
glass have been introduced into some of the collections.

Copperwares
now supply over 60 local customers and export to the USA,
the UK, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Mocambique. South
African customers include chains such as Spilhaus. Copperwares
are also suppliers to many exclusive hotels and lodges in
Southern Africa such as The Victoria Falls Hotel, Meikles
Africa and Singita.

A
combination of meticulous craftmanship, artistic design
and the highest standard of manufacture continue to be the
basis of Copperwares' success.

HOW
DO WE DO IT

spinning

HOLLOWWARE
- At Copperwares we use the finest copper, mined
in Africa and processed and rolled in Italy to the
highest standards, for our silver plated and copper
hollowware. The sheet copper ranges in thickness
from 0.2mm to 1.6mm and is cut into different size
disks depending on the product. The disks are spun
over forming dies to create different shapes. A
product can be made up of between one and five of
these shapes. These shapes are soldered together.
Copper wire, brass and cast handles are used to
create handles and stems.

joining

polishing

electroplating

hallmarking

Once
assembled the product is polished to give a high
mirror shine. If the product is copper hollowware
it is lacquered to protect the shine. If the product
is silver plated hollowware it is electroplated
with 26 microns (except on our cutlery range which
is plated to 40 microns) of silver and given a final
polish. We use the lost wax process for casting
all intricate and detailed pieces and pewter casting
for our handles.

pouring
molten metal

wax
trees

brass
casting

WALL
PICTURES - The
bright African sun is depicted on many of our products
by a 'burst of sunrays' emanating from the centre
of the copper background. This effect is achieved
by our copper artisans who hand polish each piece.
Only pure copper is used to produce a durable product.
It is then the turn of our team of talented local
artists who make each item unique by hand painting
African bush scenery and village scenes onto many
of our products.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our animal figures
used in the Gastone range which are highly detailed
and remarkably true to life. Our craftsmen hand mould
each figure in polyester resin, which is sprayed with
copper powder.

Our woodworking department uses a variety of woods
from managed forests in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe
to frame many of our pictures and to produce our range
of jewellery boxes.